Running-gear for vehicles.



TED AR. 14, 1908.

PATBN HANCOCK.

No. 884,488. Y

H, W. RUNNING GEARFOR VEHICLES.

.APPLICATION FILED SBPT.23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SEEET l.

PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

H. W. HANGUCK. RUNNING GEAR FOR V EHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED HARRY W. HANCOCK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RUNNING-GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

specification of Letters Patent,

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application led September 23, 1964. Serial No. 225,628.

'o all fwhom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HARRY W. HANCOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, ,have invented certain new andA useful Improvements in Running-Gear for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

Vehicle springs, so far as 1 am aware, have been arranged only to sustain or carry the vehicle body and its load. When the wheels surmount an obstacle the rebound of the springs throws the load upwardly, and if the progress of the vehicle is rapid the upward throw of the springs is violent, being attended with danger of breakage of the springs and discomfortto the passengers.

The object of this invention is the production of a ruiming gear for vehicles in which such sudden upward tendencies of the carrying s rings are compensated for by a restraining diiwnward pull upon the vehicle body.

T he invention further refers to a vehicle having its wheels supported upon pivoted carrying arms and having means for cushioning the pivotal movement of said arms.

A further object of the invention is the )reduction of a running gear for vehicles embodying the improvements hereimifter more particularly described.

in its application to automobiles this running gear has the advantage of providing a relatively long wheel base without sacrificing the length and strength of thc springs. Such a wheel base not only conduces to easy riding but permits the engine to be placed rearward of the forward axle and thus nearer the ground than when mounted over said axle; also thc rear wheels are srilliciently rearward to permit ofsido entrances to the tonneau. To these features also this invention relates.

ln the acconmanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a running gear embodying my invention. Fig. 12- is a sido elevation of said running gcar. Fig. Si is a section through one of the carrying springs on dotted line 2i 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through one of. the compensating springs, taken on dotted line-1 4 of Fig. 3.

ln the construction of a Vehicle embodying the features of thisl invention, lv provide a bod frame 1 comprising side bars L and end bars It rigidly secured together. bars extend substantially the full length of the vehicle, and a little distance forwardly from their middle portions are bent inwardly to make the forward end of the bed frame somewhat narrower than the rear portion. This latter feature, it will be understood, is not essential, but is merely a matter of common construction. The extreme ends of the side bars 2 are reduced in size and are bent downwardly and outwardly, forming necksl 4 which necks terminate in the b'- furcated and perforated brackets 5. The semi-elliptical carrying springs 6 and 7, in pairs, at the opposite side of the bed'frame (the former at the forward end and the latter at ther-ear end of said bed frame)v are connected at their outer ends with brackets 5, the forward spring by means of rivets 8 extending through the usual eyes formed in the ends of said s rings and the rear springs 7 by means of finks -9 pivotally mounted in brackets 5, at the rear end of the frame. The reary end of the spring 6 is pivotally connected with the bed'frame 1 by means of a e bracket '10 and a pivotal link 11 and the forward end of the spring 7 with said frame by means of a stud 12 extending outwardly from the side bars 2 of the bed frame.

At their middle portions and upon their under sides the carryin springs 6 and 7 are each provided with bi `urcated brackets 13 secured to said springs by means of the clips 14 of common construction. At their lower ends the arms of the bifurcated brackets 13 are provided with through which pivot bolt or rivet 16 is adapted to extend. Carrying levers 17 and 18, also in iairs, are adapted to be mounted, one of said ievers in each of the brackets 13 upon thepivot 16 therein. .At their outer ends these carrying lovers 17 and 18 are in sleeve form, as at 19, to receive the axles 20 and 21 respectively, the former the forward axle and thc latter the rear axle of the vehicle. The' axles 3U and 1 carry the usual front and rear wheels 22 and 23, thc former of whichmay be mounted upon steering gear (not shown) for guiding the vehicle.

The weight of thc vehicle resting upon the wheels 2; and 23 will exert a downward pull inner ends ot' thc carrving levers 17 and 1S, and this downward pull is sustained by the semi-elliptical compensating springs l5 and 26, in pairs, for tho levers 17 and 18, respectively, one of said springs being )rovided for each lever. 'lhe springs 25 an .26

the alined bearings 15.

are mounted upon the inner faces of the side bars 2, being secured at their forward ends to the pins 27 extending Ainwardly from said bars, and at their rear ends being sustained by means of ivotal links 28 mounted upon ins 29 also ed to and extending inwardly om the side bars 2. In order to bring the inner ends of the carrying levers 17 and 18 directly under the springs 25 and 2.6, said levers are bent inwardly from the brackets 13, and their inner ends are connected with the middle portions of the sustaining springs 25 and 26 by means of links 30, one of which is secured to each of said springs by a cli 31.

When any of the wheels of the vehicle ereinbefore described strike an obstruction, said wheels are thrown upward, com ressing the carrying springs above said whee s. The upward movement of the wheels produces a downward pull upon the compensating springs at the inner ends of the carrying levers sup orting the wheels that were so raised. his downward movement tends to overcome the upward throw of the carrying springs, modif ing the force of the upward movement of t e vehicle body without 1n any way interfering with the function of the carryin springs in absorbing the upward blow of t e obstruction against the wheel. By changing the relative ivotal oints of the carrying levers 17 an 18 an 1the relative tensionof the carrying springs 6 and 7 and thecompensating springs 25 and 26 different effects in the operation of the springs may be obtained. n

My invention is not restricted to the particular construction and arrangement of the. parts herein set forth as such construction and arran ement may be modified or varied by those s illed in the art Without departing from the spirit and .scope of my'invention, for instance, the s rings may be supported otherwise than as s own, and the compensating springs may be omitted and the rear ends of the carrying arms 17 and 18 made resilient.

I'claim -as my invention: 1. In a runnin(T gear for vehicles, in combination, a bed frame; and means for supporting said bed frame comprising a spring at each end of said bed frame said spring being attached at each of its ends to said bcd frame, a wheel-carrying arm pivotally connected intermediate its ends with each of said carrying springs and adapted to su port van axle at one end, and means for yielt ingly connecting the other end of each of said car- Tying-arms withsaid bed frame.

2` In a running gear for vehicles, in com- ',bination, a' bed frame a carrymg spring connected at each of its rends v'withsaid? bed Vframe; a wheel-carrying arm"pivotally connected with said spring intermediate the ends of said spring; and a s ring connected with 1 said bed frame and sai wheel-carrying arm to said carrying-spring.

and adapted to exert its force in opposition 3. In a running gear for vehicles, in combination, a bed frame; a carrying spring pivotally connected at one of its ends with said bed frame and at its other end having a link connection with said frame; a wheel-carrying arm pivotally connected with said spring `intermediate the ends of said spring; and

means connected with said wheel-carrymg arm and said bed frame for exerting a downward pull upon said bed frame to limit the movement of said carrying sprin 4. In `a running gear for vehic es, in cornbination, a bed frame; a semielliptical carrying spring pivotally connected at one of its ends with said bed frame and at its other end having a link connection'with said frame; a wheel-carrying arm pivotally connected with said spring; and means connected with said wheel-carrying arm and said bed frame for exerting a downward pull u on said bed frame to limit the movement o said carrying spring.

5. n a runnmg gear for vehlcles, in combination, a bed frame; a semielliptical carrying s ring connected at each ofits ends with said ed frame; a lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends" with said carrying spring and adapted to `rotatably support a whee upon its s iorter arm; and a spring connected with the longer arm of saidlever and with said bed frame and adapted toexert its power in opposition to said carrying spring.

6. An automobile running gear comprismof a bed frame; means for supporting one end o said bed frame; a semielliptlcal s ring at each side of the other end of said be frame; two levers each pivotally connected at a point between its ends with the middle portion of one of said springs an axle carried at one end of said levers; and springs connecting the opposi te ends of lsaid levers with the bed frame.

7. In a running gear for vehicles, in com hination, a bed frame; semi-elliptical springs pivotally connected at one end to one end of said bed frame, and havinga link connection at their opposite end wlth said frame; a wheel-carrying lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the middle portion of each of said springs, said lever bein adapted to support a wheel at one end; and means f or yiel( ingly connectin the opposite end of said lever with said bed irame.

8. In a running gear for vehicles, in combination, a bed frame; semi-elliptical springs pivotally connected at one end to one en d of said bed frame, and having a link connection at their opposite end with -said frame; a wheel-carrying lever pivotally connected intermediate its ends with the middle portion of each of said springs/said lever bein adapted to su port a whee @aft one end; an a semielliptica spring for yieldingly connecting the opposite end of said lever with seid bed lation to one end of said lever; and a, spring amel. h l fr b, for supporting said lever at its opposite end. 9. n a ve ic e eme -in com nation` e T -bed having e downwardlSf-turned memberet Y HARRY W' HAB COCK 5 the rear end thereof; a spring secured to the Witnesses:

bed and to the member; a lever pivotally L. L. MILLER,

connected to said spring; an axle in xed re- M. M. DALEY. 

